Forum to Explore the Causes of the Financial Crisis

Day 1

After hearing public testimony from leaders of both private and public sector entities in January, the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission (FCIC) is bringing together experts who have researched the financial crisis for a forum in Washington, DC on February 26-27, 2010 at American University Washington College of Law.

The economists will present working papers to the Commissioners on the key issues and events leading up to the crisis and its underlying causes. The presentations will be followed by discussion with the Commissioners.

The forum is a part of the Commission's ongoing efforts to hear from academic experts and economists on issues related to the crisis. The Commission has already met with, among others, Martin Baily, Simon Johnson, David Moss, Carmen M. Reinhart, Kenneth T. Rosen, Hal S. Scott, Joseph E. Stiglitz, John B. Taylor, Mark Zandi and Luigi Zingales.

Day 2

After hearing public testimony from leaders of both private and public sector entities in January, the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission (FCIC) is bringing together experts who have researched the financial crisis for a forum in Washington, DC on February 26-27, 2010 at American University Washington College of Law.

The economists will present working papers to the Commissioners on the key issues and events leading up to the crisis and its underlying causes. The presentations will be followed by discussion with the Commissioners.

The forum is a part of the Commission's ongoing efforts to hear from academic experts and economists on issues related to the crisis. The Commission has already met with, among others, Martin Baily, Simon Johnson, David Moss, Carmen M. Reinhart, Kenneth T. Rosen, Hal S. Scott, Joseph E. Stiglitz, John B. Taylor, Mark Zandi and Luigi Zingales.

Session 5: Mortgage Lending Practices and Securitization

Chris Mayer

Paul Milstein Professor of Real Estate, Columbia University; Visiting Scholar at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research